Heart Of Diamonds: a novel of scandal, love, and death in the Congo

Corruption at the highest levels, greed in the church and brutality among warring factions make the Congo a very dangerous place for television journalist Valerie Grey. Amid the bloody violence of that country's civil war, Grey uncovers a diamond-smuggling scheme that reaches from the heart of Africa to the White House by way of a famous American televangelist. Her goal: reveal it to the world.

Dave Donelson’s world-roving career as a management consultant and journalist has led to writing and photography assignments for dozens of national publications. The Dynamic Manager's Guide series is based on his work with hundreds of business owners and managers as well as his own experiences as a successful entrepreneur. He is also the author of Creative Selling: Boost Your B2B Sales and two novels, Heart Of Diamonds and Hunting Elf.

Reviews

Review by:
Michael Balkind
on Dec. 30, 2010 :
An Exhilirating & Eye Opening read!
As Heart of Diamonds begins, the description of a brutal rebel attack on a Congolese village as told by a young Congolese boy will tear fiercely at your heartstrings. The brutality this child endured sets the stage for the balance of the story, yet it had me wondering if I could handle more. Donelson's descriptions of life in the Congo are revolting yet riveting. As I continued turning the pages my view quickly changed from trepidation to anticipation.

While the depiction of the vicious, bloody civil war in the Congo remains a constant background theme, the exposure of a diamond smuggling operation by American TV journalist, Valerie Grey, takes you on an exhilarating journey. When Grey uncovers the corrupt scheme she quickly learns that she is dealing with a group of ruthless criminals who will stop at nothing to prevent her from airing her story. The deeper she probes, the deeper the roots of corruption seem to have grown. Soon it becomes evident that Grey and her assistant can trust no one.

Nonstop action, devastation and brutality run concurrent with altruism and romance in this thriller making it an energetic and exhilarating read. Mr. Donelson, thank you for opening this reader's eyes to the horrors of the Congo. I was moved by this novel's ability to teach as well as thoroughly entertain.